Combined back-rest and wind-shield.



I. E. PALMER. COMBINED BAGK BEST AND WIND SHIELD. APPLICATION r1231) $3111, 1911.

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coLuMmA PLANOGRAPH CQJVASHINGTON. n. L.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A'SSIGNOR TO THE I. E. PALMER C0,, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

COMBINED BACK-REST AND WIND-SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application filed September 11, 1911. Serial No. 648,681.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Combined Back-Rests and lVindShields, of which the following clescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like charactors on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to combined back rests and wind shields, and in the preferred embodiment thereof is an improvement upon the back rest shown in my Patent No. 921,628, May 11, 1909.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a couch hammock having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the construct-ion shown in Fig. 1 showing my invention when used as a back rest; Fig. 2 is a slight modification thereof; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the invention when used as a wind shield; Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively plan and cross sectional views showing means for permanently attaching the upper bar of the com-- bined back rest and wind shield; Figs. (3 and 7 are similar views showing means for detachably supporting the other bar or bars of the device when used as a back rest; and Fig. S is a modified form of back rest or Wind shield support.

In my Patent No. 921,623, I have disclosed a couch hammock back rest adapted to be used also as a wind shield and adjustable transversely of the hammock, but without capacity for angular adjustment. In other words, the attachment whether used as a back rest or as a wind shield is supported in the same angular position depending upon the formation of the end supporting wires. The attachment shown in said patent is intended primarily for use as a back rest, and in practice is composed of one or more (preferably two) longitudinal strips or bars of wood or other suitable material supported'at a suitable angle to the vertical by the end supporting wires which have an inclined or angular portion to sustain them in such position.

In accordance with my present invention, I preferably provide end supports of wires, similar it may be, to those shown in said patent and support thereon a device consisting preferably of an upper longitudinal bar or strip of wood or other suitable material preferably permanently attached to said end wires (excepting when itis desired to dismantle the parts), and one or more other bars or strips of wood or the like attached by a canvas or other band or strip of flexible material to the upper bar, said last mentioned bars being provided at their ends with hooks or other means whereby they may be detachably engaged with the end supporting wires, in which case they will be held in angular position to serve as a back rest or may be disengaged from said end support, and may hang in vertical position, in which case the device serves as a wind shield and not primarily as a back rest. Obviously, the end supporting means for the device may be widely varied within the scope of my invention.

Referring first to that form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, I have in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 represented a couch hammock which may be of any suitable type. Therein the same is shown as composed of suspension ends 11 and a frame 2, to which said ends may be connected in any suitable manner, not herein necessary to disclose. If desired, I may support upon the frame a mattress 23. Preferably the suspension ends are provided at their upper ends with transverse spreaders 14 and stringing means 55. At opposite ends of the hammock, I provide suitable means for supporting the combined back rest and wind shield. Conveniently such device consists of angularly shaped wires having portions 6, 7, which may be hooked at their ends as indicated at 8 to take overthe upper edges of the suspension ends between the stringing means 5. In this manner, the wires and the parts supported thereby may be adjusted transversely of the hammock. The members 6 of the wires are preferably shaped so as to extend at a suitable inclination to the vertical or to the hammock seat, so as to support the back rest in a corresponding inclined position. In lieu of the supporting wires, I may provide any other suitable means.

Attached in any suitable manner to the members 66 of the wires, I provide an upper bar or strip 9 of wood or metal or other suitable material, which may be attached in the mannerindicated in my said Patent No. 921,628, thereby permitting vertical adjustment of said bar and parts supported therefrom. Herein, for the purpose, I have represented the bar 9 as provided at its ends with a metallic bracket 10 having partial bearings 11 and 12 adapted to encircle the inclined portions 6 of said end supporting wires. One of said partial bearings, as, for example, the bearing 12, is provided with a set screw 13 to bind against the wire 6, thereby to hold the bar 9 in proper vertical position. The'said bar may be rendered detachable from the end supports 6 in any suit-able manner, but in accordance with my invention the said bar 9 is supported upon the wire members 6 when the device is used either as a back rest or as a wind shield.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that I provide means for fixedly attaching the upper portion of the back rest or wind shield to the end supporting devices. Such means is shown as adjustable, preferably to permit of altering the height of the back rest or wind shield, and of course, such means may be disconnected as for disassembling the parts.

Obviously, any suitable means may be employed to support the upper bar 9 upon the portion 6 of the end wires. For example, instead of employing set screws, such as indicated at 13, I may suitably bend or form the wires so as to support the said bar 9' in position. In Fig. 2, I have represented one of the wires 6 as having a bent portion 6 to receive therein one end of the bar 9. As shown, said bar is preferably provided with the partial bearings 11, 12 which are hooked around to or engage with the bent portions 6 of the wires, so that when the bar 9 is positioned, it is securely held in place. In this form of my invent-ion, the bar 9 is not vertically adjustable, but if desired the wires 6 may be provided with a plurality of bent portions into any one of which the bar 6 may be positioned.

From the bar 9 depends a cloth or other suitable flexible strip 14 preferably of canvas, as, for example, by providing a hem in its upper edge to receive said bar 9. Supported in a suitable hem or hems in said strip or in any other suitable manner, I provide one or more other bars 15, 16 having means at their ends, such as hooks 17, for detachably connecting them to the wire members 6, so that the wholedevice or such portion thereof as is desired may be supported in inclined position, as shown in Fig. 1. The wire members 6 are sufficiently flexible to permit the hooks 17 to be readily engaged therewith and disengaged therefrom. The flexible strip 14; may extend to any suitable distance below the bars 15, 16, as indicated at 18 in Figs. 2 and 3, or may terminate at the lower bar 16 as may be desired.

Then it is desired to use the device as a wind shield the hooks 17 are disengaged from the wire members 6, so that the flexible strip 14 and the bars 15, 16 may depend vertically fromthe upper bar 9 as indicated in Fig. 3.

Obviously the transverse position of the combined back rest and wind shield may be varied, so that it may be supported at its upper edge at the extreme rear side of the hammock instead of as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. rest and wind shield may be if desired directly supported by or upon the suspension ends themselves.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a slightly modified form of support for the combined back rest and wind shield. Therein I provide at each end of the hammock a wire or bracket 19, the upper end 20 whereof may be hooked over the upper edge of the suspension end and the lower end 21 whereof may be provided with a foot rest directly upon the frame 2 of the hammock or upon the mattress 3 as may be desired. Preferably, however, the same is supported directly upon the frame, as thereby a more rigid support is obtained. In the manner previously described or in any other suitable manner, the combined back rest and wind shield is supported thereon, it being understood that the wires or brackets 19 may be adjusted transversely of the hammock, and may be inclined or straight.

If desired, I may provide the lower free end of the combined back rest and wind shield shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with a spreader, so that when said combined back rest and wind shield is used as a wind shield, the lower edge thereof with its lower spreader may be held in fixed position with relation to the hammock seat by any suitable means, as by lacing.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the combined back rest and wind shield can be readily adjusted for use in either relation, and that it serves either use in a most efficient manner, and that the entire device may be adapted to couch hammocks of any approved type or pattern.

Within the scope of my invention, I contemplate the employment of a back rest or a wind shield, the angular position of which with respect to the horizontal or seat portion of the hammock may be altered. In other words, the device may be used as a back rest, and as such may be placed in any suitable inclined position, or may be vertically positioned, and furthermore may be adjusted toward and from the back edge of the hammock as desired.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and Claims: 1. A combined back rest and Wind shield for couch hammocks comprising end brackets or members adapted to be supported by the hammock suspension ends, and a plurality of longitudinal bars flexibly connected together, the uppermost of said bars being permanently and the remainder of said bars being detachably supported by said end brackets or members.

2. A combined back rest and Wind shield for couch hammocks comprising end brackets or members adapted to be supported by the hammock suspension ends, a plurality of longitudinal bars, a cloth strip connecting said bars, means for adjustably but fixedly securing the uppermost bar to said end brackets or members, and hooks for detachably securing the remaining bar or bars to said brackets or members.

3. An attachment for couch hammocks comprising a back rest or Wind shield, endsupporting devices therefor provided with suspension portions, means for fixedly attaching the upper portion of said back rest or Wind shield to said supporting devices and means for detachably supporting the lower portion thereof upon said supporting devices.

4. A combined back rest or Wind shield attachment for couch hammocks and the like, consisting of a longitudinal rod or bar, inclined end-supporting means therefor, a Wind shield member depending from said rod or bar, means for securely attaching said rod or bar to said end-supporting means, and means for detachably engaging the lower portion of said Wind shield member With the end-supporting means, whereby said Wind shield member may be securely supported in vertical and in inclined position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER.

Witnesses IRVING M. TOWNSEND, ROBERT H. KAMMLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

